Peninsula Pitchers Going Separate Ways

July 14, 1993|By MIKE KEECH Daily Press

HAMPTON — Softball pitchers Kim Pankoke and Dawn Crosby combined for 134 victories in their high school careers. Today, Poquoson's Pankoke and Denbigh's Crosby make their final high school appearances, playing in the same game for the first time on the East squad in the Virginia High School Coaches Association all-star game at Briarfield Park.

For Pankoke, who will attend the University of Tennessee this fall, it's likely her last hurrah in the sport. Tennessee doesn't have a softball program and Pankoke will pursue her childhood goal of becoming a veterinarian.

``I've wanted to be a veterinarian longer than I've been a softball player,'' said Pankoke, who helps in the care of her family's five dogs and two cats. ``I'm determined to be one.

``It hasn't really hit me yet that this is my last game. I don't want to be nervous, but I'm sure I will be like I always am before a game. This level of competition should be hard and fun. I want to make my last game a winning one.

``I'm ready to move on to something else, but I'll stay involved with the game in some way. I like helping younger kids learning to play.''

Pankoke hints at a slim possibility of her playing in college if Tennessee starts a program while she is enrolled.

Pankoke's transition from softball should be helped by the move from the smallness of Poquoson to the more metropolitan offerings of Knoxville.

``I'm tired of small towns,'' she said. ``I think going to school in Knoxville will give me a new view on things.''

Crosby has definite plans to continue her playing career for the nationally ranked Division III Christopher Newport University program and beyond if possible.

``I'd like to keep playing even after college and hope that a major in sports medicine or physical therapy will help me do that.

``This game is very important to me. It says a lot about the hard work I've done the last four years. As a freshman, I was aware of the good pitchers in this area like Becky Bradshaw and Jennifer Diggs and Kim Pankoke. I didn't think there was any way then that I would reach this level.''

At 5-foot-2 3/4 and 113 pounds, Crosby has continually had to battle against the label of being too small to pitch at an upper level.

``I think I have a lot to prove in this game to those people who don't know me.''

She is prepared for the learning process to start over again as a college freshman.

``In college you pitch from a distance 3 feet farther than high school and you can't take a step backward like you can in high school,'' Crosby said.

``I'll have to establish myself each year like I did in high school. I also have to be more confident pitching at the college level. You can't get away with some of the things you did in high school because the overall talent level is higher.''

She has prepped for today's game by playing with the York County All-Stars in a summer league for players age 16-18.

``We're one victory away from making the state tournament, but I'll probably have to miss that game because of this one here,'' Crosby said.